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Original poster

In agony from ear wax build up

76 replies

longtimebrowser · 15/05/2021 10:36

Delightful I know but I am in complete agony from a build up of ear wax (confirmed by nurse). I've been advised to book an appointment privately but I can't get a slot for another week Sad
To try and ease the pain and help clear the wax I am:

  • alternating olive oil and Otex ear drops
  • washing out ears with Otex bulb and under a running tap
  • hot bath
  • ibuprofen every 4 hours

What else I can do??? Was hoping for a nice weekend but can't move from bed at the moment!

OP posts:
Intercity225 · 10/06/2021 15:44

She suggested going to a pharmacy and buying a diy device to remove wax.

I am only a patient, but the audiologist is looking down my ear the whole time either with a camera or microscope type thing. I wouldn't dream of poking around near my ear drum, when I can't see what I'm doing! IMO, that is totally irresponsible advice!

Bufferingkisses · 12/06/2021 16:59

Skoda, the worrying thing is that, had you done that and perforated your ear drum, the case against the surgery would cost them far more than a referral to ENT. It is absolutely disgusting that people are being left suffering or risking their health for the sake of a 5 minute procedure that they are commissioned to provide.

Fwiw our department only recommends olive oil or bicarbonate drops. Nothing else.

Hope you are getting better op Flowers

garlictwist · 12/06/2021 17:03

I had this and rang around a few places and was able to get an appointment to have it sucked out the next day. There were lots of places offering it so maybe just ring around?

The relief was instant!

The guy said you should never put anything in your ear and those drops that are advertised actually make things worse.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
Supersimkin2 · 12/06/2021 17:15

You know those blackhead remover sticks with a little loop on the end? Veeeery carefully, insert the loop end and fiddle. It can’t cut you but it can slice through the lumps and get them out a bit at a time.

skodadoda · 12/06/2021 18:26

I had this and rang around a few places and was able to get an appointment to have it sucked out the next day. There were lots of places offering it so maybe just ring around?

Yes, Garlic, there are plenty of places offering it - for a fee. The point here is that it should be NHS, not private.

ElderMillennial · 12/06/2021 18:37

I have blocked ears at the moment too OP. I have tried Otex before and it didn't work. Even if it does, I can't see that it would be helpful to be using different things in the same period and putting oil in then water then otex then oil then water...

Olive oil does work for me but it's difficult if the wax has become impacted. Try not to to put anything in your ear like ear buds or finger nails (I sometimes see if I can get wax out with my little finger but I try not to).

I am dubious about trying the at home ear syringing products in case they cause damaged. A nurse suggested to me standing under the shower but a GP had told me to avoid getting water in them. I also have narrow ear canals.

I have had microsuction at Specsavers but it is annoying to have to pay. I was booked in to have syringing at the start of covid and it has been on hold since. They won't do it Id you have an infection and you may have if you have earache.

Currently one ear is quite blocked while the other is less severe and intermittent.

parietal · 12/06/2021 18:43

dh once fixed my ear was buildup with warm water & calpol syringe. it worked v well but may not be recommended by medics.

TheoMeo · 12/06/2021 18:48

Lie with your head on its side and ear on hot water bottle or warmed wheat bag

Justwingingit2005 · 12/06/2021 18:51

My dad had had the same issue with ears.
GP said no to otex. Said if its impacted nothing will shift it. Had to go privately, cost £75 and felt immediate relief.

Whenigrowupiwanttobea · 12/06/2021 19:39

I had the same problem. Used the olive oil drops for 2 weeks to really soften the wax and then used the ear-syringe kit. Sat on the bathroom floor with a big jug of warm water to refill the syringe and leaning over the shower floor. Took about 10 minutes of irrigation with the warm water when a few flakes of wax came out followed by a ruddy great chunk. The relief was instant! Hearing restored and pain gone!!!

blahblahblah321 · 12/06/2021 20:19

What are the usual symptoms of wax build up? I wonder if I have it

nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut · 12/06/2021 20:29

Specsavers do earwax removal.

TheVolturi · 12/06/2021 20:41

I have had what I think is a blocked ear for years! It feels full and hurts when I exercise. I will try specsavers but it's wrong we have to pay!

blahblahblah321 · 12/06/2021 20:48

@TheVolturi

I have had what I think is a blocked ear for years! It feels full and hurts when I exercise. I will try specsavers but it's wrong we have to pay!
Do you get ringing/tinnitus with it?
TheVolturi · 12/06/2021 20:50

No i can't say that I do, but it feels muffled.

ElderMillennial · 12/06/2021 21:14

Specsavers does microsuction and it's annoying to have to pay for it but my local surgery does syringing so that could be an option but I think every area is different.

I would have thought they'd be able to syringe ears again now but it's still on hold due to covid.

What are the usual symptoms of wax build up? I wonder if I have it

I think you would know. Do your ears feel blocked?

blahblahblah321 · 12/06/2021 21:31

@ElderMillennial

Specsavers does microsuction and it's annoying to have to pay for it but my local surgery does syringing so that could be an option but I think every area is different.

I would have thought they'd be able to syringe ears again now but it's still on hold due to covid.

What are the usual symptoms of wax build up? I wonder if I have it

I think you would know. Do your ears feel blocked?

They are itchy, feel a bit sore (and annoying) and when it's quiet I can hear a slight buzzing! I'll have to try and get them looked at
SantaSue · 12/06/2021 21:32

I cannot recommend this enough www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000SOJXGA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_4A8W68MSJF41P5PST28G?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21
It's a syringe that squirts water in your ear (sorry if it's the same as a PP posted, I can't open links as my phone's playing up). I also tried a bulb one but that did nothing. This one cleared a huge plug of painful earwax from my ear but was so gentle, more gentle than water from the shower. It was amazing.

skodadoda · 12/06/2021 21:35

@ElderMillennial

Specsavers does microsuction and it's annoying to have to pay for it but my local surgery does syringing so that could be an option but I think every area is different.

I would have thought they'd be able to syringe ears again now but it's still on hold due to covid.

What are the usual symptoms of wax build up? I wonder if I have it

I think you would know. Do your ears feel blocked?

It is not on hold because of covid, it’s policy:-

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-54296737
The minister is wrong to say you can get hearing aids. You won’t if your ears are blocked with wax. GPs are supposed to offer microsuction.

ElderMillennial · 12/06/2021 21:41

@skodadoda I have been told by staff at my surgery, more than once, that they are not carrying out syringing due to covid and that I am at the top of the waiting list for when the service resumes. I had an appointment early last year and they called to cancel it on the day due to covid.

BelleClapper · 12/06/2021 21:45

I use a hair grip. But I am a bit of an ear renegade. I also have a camera thing for looking in the kids/dh ears, and a light up scrapey spoon thing.

But a hair grip for my own ears (the looped end).

Intercity225 · 12/06/2021 22:01

I have been told by staff at my surgery, more than once, that they are not carrying out syringing due to covid and that I am at the top of the waiting list for when the service resumes.

I can’t see why not - I had my ears microsuctioned in November and May! Both during Covid!

feliznavidad2 · 12/06/2021 22:06

The bicarbonate of sofa ear drops used to be really good when DS got very waxy ears. It seemed to sort of fizz it out.

patient.info/medicine/sodium-bicarbonate-ear-drops

ElderMillennial · 12/06/2021 22:23

@Intercity225 I have had microscution too but my GP surgery are not doing syringing. They say it's to do with risk / spray as it's obviously a different process to microsuction but given so many other things are getting back to normality it seems strange they are not doing this yet.

Intercity225 · 12/06/2021 22:28

ElderMillennial

DH had his ears microsuctioned just after me in November. They did syringe the last bit out!

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